Hair treating machine



July 2, 1946. B. A. DODD I 2,403,350 HAIR TREATING MACHINE I 5 FiledFeb. 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet].

\ INVENTOR. 5/?7'//A A. 0000,

ATTORA AS'Y y 2, 1946- B. A. DODD I 'HAIR TREATING MACHINE Filed Feb.21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A rr ORA/[Y In llliala Ivilflliil PatentedJuly 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR TREATING MACHINE Bertha A.Dodd, Washington, D. C.

Application February 21, 1944, Serial No. 523,355

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine for theremoval of kinks and curls in human'hair.

My invention consists of a machine having means to put the hair undertension and hold it thus for a predetermined time in the presence ofheat and a suitable liquid; and consists further in the parts andcombination of parts hereinafter specified.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view looking towards the hair clamp,the clamp being open for the reception of hair.v

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the hair tension roll, detached from themachine.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of Figure 7, the

clamping jaw being open.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of one end of the Winding roll.

The reference numerals I and 2 designate the side bars of the frame ofmy machine. To one end of the bar I is secured an angle iron 3 and toone end of the bar 2 is secured an extension 4. The lower hair clampingroll, or member, 5 is rigidly secured to the angle iron 3 and extension4, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6. The upper hair clamping roll ormember 6 is pivotally secured at one end between arms I extendingupwardly from the extension 4 and is provided with an arm 8 extendingaxially from its free end, said arm being provided with a cam recess 9.

Pivotally secured between the upper ends of the arms 'I on the angleirons 3 is the hair clamp locking lever I I] having a cam II extendingat right angles to the lever and designed to engage the cam recess 9 ofthe upper hair clamping member to firmly hold the said members in thelocked position shown in Figure 2.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the side bars of the machine areprovided with notches of different shape; the notches I2. on bar Ihaving a rounded bottom seat I3, while the notches I4 in bar 2 areprovided with a flat seat I5, the purpose of which will hereinafter bedescribed.

The hair tension roller I6 is provided with a clamping lever I6 pivotednear one endof the member, as clearly shown in Figure 8, and is con- 5Claims. (Cl. 13231) 2 caved to coact with the perimeter of the memberI6. The member is provided with a round rodlike extension I1, at eachend of which is a collar I8, an operating handle I9 extending from thetension member beyond the outermost collar I8. The opposite end of thehair tensioning member I6 is provided with a socket 20 in which ispositioned a clutch member 2| having an extension 22 of reduced diameterprovided at its free end with a slot 23; a coiled spring 24 surroundsthe reduced portion 22 one end of which is anchored in the slot 23 whileits other end is seated on the base of the plunger, as shown in Figure9. The outer end 24 of the member 22 extends beyond the end of thetension member I6 and terminates in a right angle arm 25, rectangular incross section.

This hair tension member is positioned between the side bars I and 2,with the round rod portion I'I resting on the curved seat I3 of thenotch I2 in bar I, while the rectangular extension Mi is seated on theflat seat I5 of the bar 2, the right angle portion 25 bearing againstthe outer face of the bar 2 adjacent the notch IT. The hair tensionmember may be revolved on the rod I! and member 2|; the entension beingrectangular and fitting in the seat of the notch I4 isheldagainstrevolution. The free end of the spring 24 has sufficient frictionalcontact with the wall of the recess 20 to hold the hair tension roll inthe desired position to hold the hair under the desired tension for thedesired period of time.

The machine is further provided with a casing comprising the top andbottom covers 25 and 26, respectively. These covers are each providedwith (preferably) an electric heating coil 21 surrounded by suitableinsulation 28. The coils are coupled with a source of supply 29.

The covers 26, 26 are fixed at one end to the inner ends of operatinghandles or members 39 which are centrally pivoted together by means of atransverse pintle pin 36 and provided at their outer ends with operatingknobs 30a. A coiled spring 302) has its coiled portion encompassing thepivot pin 36' and has its ends arranged to bear upon the handlesoutwardly beyond the pivot point 30' so as to normally exert pressure tospread the outer ends of the handles apart and to move the cover 26, 26'towards each other or into clamping position. The cover members are thuspivotally united to form an openable and closable cover in which saidcover members are normally moved toward each other to close the cover,and in which said cover members are.

adapted to be swung apart to open the cover by pressure on the knobs 30awhereby the cover members may be moved apart against the resistance ofthe spring 30b. When the cover members are spread apart or opened thecover may be applied for use or removed by sliding it inwardly oroutwardly longitudinally of the frame, over the tensioning member it,The cover when applied obviously acts as a spring clamp to clamp thepads 31 against the gripped strand of hair. Preferably the inner ends ofthe frames of the handles 35 are recessed, as shown at 3%, and theadjacent ends of the cover members 25, 26 are recessed, as shown at 36d,to adapt them to close about the tensioning device it and clamp l6 whenthe cover is applied and disposed in clamping position against the pads3i. The arrangement of the sets of recesses is such, as shown in Fig. 4,that. when the cover is applied the recessed portions 3id respectivelyoverlie and underlie the tensioning device It and clamp l6 and adapt thecover members to straddle the same to lock the clamp it against casualopening movement, while also adapting the cover members to be swung toopen and closed positions on the pivot 30 without interference from thetensioning device It or clamp I6.

After the hair A has been placed under the desired tension, pads 31saturated with the desired solution are placed over the hair and thecovers closed.

In practice the clamping members and 6, are positioned on the head asclose to they scalp as deemed necessary and the hair A to bestraightened is placed between the clamping members and the member 6 isthen swung onto the hair and locked in position by the locking leverIii. The free endsof the hair are then, given a preliminary turn aroundthe tension roller it until there is a fairly tight tension placed onthe hair, when the clamping. bar is then moved in the position shown inFigure 7, whereupon the hair is firmly held on the tension roll. Thetension roller or member is then revolved until the necessary tension isplaced on the hair to straighten out the kinks or curls, whereupon thepads are placed over the hair and the hinged covers closed over the padsand hair. These pads may be saturated with any desired solution.

After the hair has been under the necessary tension and held in thatcondition the desired time, the covers are then raised off of the padand hair, the pads removed and the hair is then washed in any suitablemanner to remove the solution. The time of treatment may be controlledwith any suitable means to cut off the electric current, but thisfeature is not claimed and hence not illustrated.

The series of notches in the side bars of the frame enable me toposition the tensioning member relatively to the clamping member to takecare of hairs of diiferent lengths.

What Iclaim is:

i. In a hair straightening device, the combination of a frame, a clampsupported on the frame at or near one end of the frame for clamping astrand of hair near its roots, a tensioning device supported on theframe at or near the opposite end of the frame and in spaced relation tothe clamp for gripping and tensioning the free end of a strand extendedthereto from the clamp, and a heater comprising, a pair of, pivotallyconnected handles adapted to be disposed at the second named end of theframe in, juxtaposition to the, tensioning' device'and 'a pair of covermembers.

having heating means therein and attached at one end to the handles soas to be movable thereby by pivotal movements thereof to open and closedpositions and whereby said cover members are adapted to be passed inopen position over the tensioning device and disposed between the clampand tensioning device and brought to lie in closed position with theirinner faces in proximate relationship on opposite sides of the clampedstrand, the inner surfaces of the ends of said cover member attached tothe handles being recessed to receive and partially enclose thetensioning device to allow the cover members to swing to open and closedpositions without interference from the tensioning device and to allowsaid faces of the cover members in their closed position to come intoclose heating relation to the clamped strand.

2. In a hair straightening device, the combination of a frame, a clamp.supported on the frame at or near one end of the f-rame-for -clamping astrand of hair near its roots, a tensioning device supported on theframe at or near the oppositc end of the frame and in spaced relation tothe clamp for gripping and tensioning the free end of a strand extendedthereto from the clamp, and a heater comprising a pair of pivotallyconnected handles adapted to be disposed at the secondnamed end of theframe in juxtapositionto the tensioning device, apair of cover membershaving heating means therein and attached at one end to the handles soas to be movable thereby by pivotal movements-thereof to .open. andclosed positions and whereby said cover members are adapted to be passedin open, position. over the tensioning device and disposed between theclamp and tensioning device and brought tone in. closed position withtheir inner faces .in proximate relationship to opposite sides oftheclamped strand, and spring means actingon the handles to nor,- maliyhold the handles andcover members closed, the inner, surfaces of theends, of said cover, members attached tothe handles being recessed toreceive and partially enclose the tensiom'ng device to allow the covermembers to; swing to open and closed positions, without interferencefrom the tensicning device and allow said faces ofthe cover members,intheirclosed position to come in close heating relationship to theclamped strand,

3. In a hairfstraightening device, thecombination of a framehaving sidemembers, a clamp supported on the frame members at or near one end ofthe frame forclamping a strand of hair near its roots, a tensioningdevice supported on the frame members at or near the opposite end of theframe and in spaced relation to the clamp for gripping and tensioningthe free end of a strand extended thereto from the clamp, saidtensioning; device including a part rotatably engaging one of the sidemembers, of the frame, a clamp for holding the strand in engagement withthe rotatable part, a non-rotatable part engaging the other side of theframe and resilient means coupling said parts and adapted to permitrotation of the first mentioned part to tension the strand and to actthereon to hold the strand under elastic tension, and a heatercomprising a pair of pivotally connected handles adapted to be disposedat the second named end of the frame in juxtaposition to the tensioningdevice and a pair of cover members. havingheatin means therein andattached at one end to the handles so as to be movable thereby by;pivotal movements thereof, to open and closedpositions said covermembers adapted to bepassed inopen.

position over the tensioning device and disposed between the clamp andtensioning device and brought to lie in closed position with their innerfaces in proximate relationship to opposite sides of the clamped strand,the inner surfaces of the ends of said cover members attached to thehandles being recessed to receive and partially enclose the tensioningdevice to allow the cover members to swing to open and closed positionswithout interference from the tensioning device and to allow said facesof the cover members in their closed position to come into close heatingrelationship to the clamped strand.

4. In a hair straightening device, the combination of a frame havingside members, a clamp supported on the frame members at or near one endof the frame for clamping a strand of hair near its roots, a tensioningdevice supported on the frame members at or near the opposite ends ofthe frame and in spaced relation to the clamp for gripping andtensioning the free end of a strand extended thereto from the clamp,said tensioning' device including a part rotatably engaging one of theside members of the frame, a clamp for ho1ding the strand in engagementwith the rotatable part, a non-rotatable part engaging the other side ofthe frame and resilient means coupling said parts and adapted to permitrotation of the first named part to tension the strand and to actthereon to hold the strand under elastic tension, and a heatercomprising a pair of pivotally connected handles adapted to be disposedat the second-named end of the frame in juxtaposition to the tensioningdevice, a pair of cover members having heating means therein andattached at one end to the handles so as to be movable thereby bypivotal movement thereof to open and closed positions and whereby saidcover members are adapted to be passed in open position over thetensioning device and disposed between the clamp and tensioning deviceand brought to lie in closed position with their inner faces inproximate relationship to opposite sides of the clamped strands, andspring means acting on the handles to normally hold the handles andcover members closed, the inner surfaces of the ends of said covermembers attached to the handles being recessed to receive and partiallyenclose the tensioning device to allow the cover members to swing toopen and closed positions without interference from the tensioningdevice and to allow said faces of the cover members in their closedposition to come into close heating relationship to the clamped strand.

5. In a hair straightening device, a clamp to engage a strand of hairadjacent to the scalp, a tensioning device to engage the free end of thestrand and hold the strand under tension, means for supporting saidclamp and strand in spaced relation, and a removable heater comprising apair of internally heated heating members having pivotally connectedactuating handles at one .end thereof coupling them jaw-fashion foropening and closing movements to adapt said members to be passed forapplication and removal over the tensioning device and to be disposedwhen applied on opposite sides of the tensioned strand and moved towardand from the same into and out of heating position relative thereto tolie lengthwise of the heater on opposite sides of the tensioning deviceand having portions formed to straddle and partially enclose said devicein spaced relation thereto to allow the heating members to freely swingwithout interference from the tensioning device into and out of heatingposition.

BERTHA A. DODD.

